Valve operating mechanism



Aug. 21, 1934. E. 1 scHELLENs VALVE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 6. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l t' v, i VM@ 5 ATTORN EYS.

Aug. 21, 1934. E. L. scHELLENs VALVE OPERATING MECHANI SM Filed oct. e, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

o E mf Patented Aug. 21, 1934 This invention relates to valve operating mechanisms and is particularly vconcerned withV an operating mechanism for a valve disposed Within a chamber* which is normally subject to fluid pressure. and from which thefoperating 'connection must be extended to a point exterior of the chamberiorV actuation by the desired Vcontrolling means.4

vention will become fmore apparent from a consideration of` the following general'discussion-oftypes of valve actuating mechanisms heretofore employed in structures of the general type outiinaiabcwe.Y

- It should first be borne in mind in'this con-'i nection that, in thetype'ofvalve arrangements referred to, a valve is normally positioned Within `a. chamber which is subject to fiuid under pres-Q sure,for example, steam. It should further` be:k

noted thatvvhere it is desiredto actuate the valve' from a point -exterior of the'iiuid pres#` sure chamber it, of coursefbecomes necessary vto extendan actuating connection through a-.Wall' of fthe chamber.v i

; Heretofore, relatively large yand` flexible brous or soft metal discs have 4been disposed in 'the' Wallsv of such chambers. With these arrange-y ments the operating Vconnection Was eirtended through-a diaphragm toactuate the valve 'by-a movement thereof generally perpendicular tothe plane of thediaphragm. l l` i vv. V "1 AUAs alternativesytne prior vart has-also* em` ployed the so-calle'd bellows typeof collapsible diaphragms or some type of packed or stuffed rotating or axially movable valve operatingcon-` nection.' As is Well recognized in this artg'these various types of valve actuating connections are -all sub-"- ly'where high'pressures are employed; leakage of the iluid On the othenhandfabric, rubber or nbro'us diaphragms are entirely unsuitable for certain pressure conditions and, still further', the rela tively softmetals which have beenV employed ini' subject tovery severe corrosion. A v

"While various features ofthe present'inventionare applicable to control mechanisms 'have the bellows or flat type of diaphragme are oftenv ing valves and the like of a Wide variety of types,-

at the same time, it should be observed thatthe lspecific structure herein disclosed is especially lpressure and sticking veryfrequently adapted -for -use as an lemergency control mecha.

V y y Y operating connectioneiitended to a po'intexterior Some of lthe more important objects offtheinv of the chamber, considerable difficulty has been encountered heretofore'fas a result of corrosion, pi'ting and tl'efliln,y so'that former devices have failedin-'thevery emergencies forwhich they Wereprovided 'I This matter Will be still more apparent when:` tj is "considered that,A in an 'emerallof the foregoing V disadvantages and difficulties by the use of a deviceivvhich is relatively simple, so that its manufacture and installation are neither complicated nor expensive.

"'Before proceeding'with a more or less detailed description ofthe nature ofthis invention, attention is called to thev fact that the arrangement provided is especially suitable for use in avalve structure which is arranged foractuation only relatively infrequently-*By Way' ofexample, a structureofthe type towhich'the present invention is particularly suitable, is one in which the actuating'mechanism takes the form of an emergency 'trip designed to *operate only ywhen the operation of-someof the associated parts is im.- paired'or when someof the parts themselves become' damaged. It is desirablegof course, `that such emergency trip mechanisms should be posi-4 tive-'in -th'ir i"action 2 at suchstimes as theyare operated,A andl heretofore in this art .considerable diiculty 'has resulted from the use of various typesfof actuating `mechanisms above referred to since corrosion', accumulation of scale, pitting and the'likefrequently occur vWhere the parts are not in constant use. l

' More specifically,'this invention contemplates the use of ai relativelyv small diameter metallic diaphragm, the said Vdiaphragm being composed of a material such 'as Monel4 metal. In this Way, the difliculties heretofore encountered by .virtue of" corrosion and the'vv accumulation of scale and the flike' are "substantially eliminated, especially where the parts are normally subjected to the action of steam.

Furthermore, instead of following the practice of the prior art (arranging the valve actuating connection for movement substantially perpenicularly to the diaphragm) I provide an operating connection which is arranged to actuate the valve by a rocking movement` the center 'vof'. which lies in or at least closely adjacent to the plane of the diaphragm itself. In this manner,`and

with a suitable valve operating connection ex-- tended laterally from the diaphragm and inter` nally of the chamber, by a very "'slight'irregular transverse deformation of the diaphragm in an area or portion intermediate its edges, I mayob-Y tain quite large valve movement. ,Y

It should further be noted that, in accordance with this invention, the diaphragm-itself positions or provides the fulcrum point'for the valve movement, this being of considerable importance since it reduces complication in the parts and also provides a sturdyccnstruction. .Y

The inventionV also has in viewyarious other more or less detailed objects and advantages all, of Which will'appear Amore clearly hereinafter from consideration of the following description taken with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment or applicationof the invention. ,f Y 1 Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view `through a,

portion of a turbine motor arranged for steam` operation,'the View including an emergency control valve for the| turbine, the actuating mecha:V

nism therefor, pas well as otherassociated parts;

Figure 2 is an elevational `View taken from-the left of Figure '1, the view being particularlyarranged to illustrate some ofthe `valve actuating;

parts ;k and Figure 3 is a detail Viewoffa.portionbfthe actuating mechanism.

Referring rst to Figure 1, attention to the showing of the turbine or motor shaft at 4'.

This shaft may be suitably journaled as indicated at 5.and is provided with arunner 6 having blades or buckets 7 against whichthe opfrom the valve itself and, at v,its endfis disposed over: a diaphragm 14 which is formed at one end'of aA cylindrical part 15. These portions 14- and 15 constitute a cup member, 'preferably lmade of Monel metal, and the cup is further ,provided with an external flange 16 ,which isarranged to b'e gripped between the collarv or ring r17. and

a cooperating part 18.V The ring-17, ofcourse, is snugly fitted within a wall 19'of the chamber 11 and the securing device 18 has a cylindrical portion 20 extended into the cylinder 15in order to reenforce the latter and provide, a fluid -tight connection in the chamber wall.- Suitable nut and bolt devices 21 serve to tighten the device 18'by reaction against a portion of thechamber wall19.

' The valveactuating connection 22 'extended through a central aperture in the diaphragm 1,4,Y

and is operatively connected with the stem 13. A iuid tight joint is provided at this point by means of the gripping parts 23 and 24, arranged at opposite sides of the diaphragm. A nut 25 serves to complete the connection with the part 22 as well -as to rigidly grip the diaphragm between theabutting members 23 and 24. In order to relieve the diaphragm 14 of the pressure and also of the weight of the valve itself as well as the immediately associated operating parts, a

knife edge 26 is disposed above the diaphragm Jand extended transversely thereacross so that, in effect, the-valve and the actuating parts are supportedfon the cylindrical reenforcing part 20 ofthe securingdevice 18. The knife edge 26,

`furthermordkis disposed along the axis about which the lrocking movement occurs during valve actuation The connection 22 is extended downwardly substantially to terminate in a part 27 which servestocooperate with a loop or bracket 28 mounted atone end of the spindle 29. A cooperatingA actuating part 30 is apertured to pass the `,spindle 29-and, at one side thereoffisrarranged togabutagainst one leg of the yoke 28.` At its other side, a spring 31 is` disposed for reaction between the part 30 and a nut 32 thread,

ed on to the end of the spindle 29. .The part;

3U isextended laterally as indicatedinFigure 2 and mountedfor movement with the pivoted lever 33, the` pivot for this lever being indicated at 34. vThe lever 33, in turn, carries a stop or lug 35-having an adjusting nut device 36 associated therewith, the latter being disposed for contactwith a ,second lever 37 which is mounted for rotation with theshaft 38. The shaft last mentioned maybe provided with any suitable,A

bearing and also carries an additional crank-01j lever' 39 which is arranged to contact with a part 40 :of a governor mechanism` 41, the latter being arranged peripherally of the turbine or motor'shaft 4. -At the point of contact `of the adjustablebolt device 36, the lever 37 is notched as at 42 so that upon movement of the lever 37 to the left, asl viewed in Figure 1, the device 36 is disengaged from the notch 42 and the lever- 33 may then pivot to the left and downwardly about the axis 34. A spring 43 is secured at one end to thek vlever 33 as at 44, and at its other vendto thelever 37 as at 45. An additional l abutment 46 is also carried by the lever 33 anddisposed thereon -in such manner that, upon movement ofthe lever 37 counterclockwise about its pivot 38 to release the device 36 from the notch A42, -its action (that of the abutment46) is such as to further displace the lever 37 to the left (as viewed in Figure 1) yand to come into a position to one side of the lever lastmentioned and thus prevent automatic return of the mechanism to the position illustrated in Figure .1- after it has been tripped.

#To clarify the Yentire operation of the trip mechanism, it should be borne in mind first that the governor device 41 is so arranged as to cause an axial movement of the part 40 to the right (see Fig. 1) upon an increase in speed of the motor or turbine shaft 40 beyond the normal or desired rate.` Thus, the invention has here been illustrated and-described as applied to a structure which is especially adapted fork use as an emergency trip, although it is to be understood that various Afeatures of the valve actuating mechanism itself may be applied with equal advantage to numerous other valve or structural arrangements, f

r. periods of use.

associated actuating parts5pe'r se are-especially.

To continue with themode of operation of .the particular trip mechanism herein illustrated, iassumenow that the governor part is displaced to the right. This displacement m'ovesthe lever 39 tothe right and thus causes'the lever 137 to be moved to the left about the pivot :point 38 so that the device 36'is disengaged'vfrom the .notch 42. Upon such'disengagemeiit ;of the device 36 the reaction of spring 43', which is extended at a considerable angle tothe lever 33, in turn', causes a counterclockwise movement of the .lever 33 .about its pvot 34/With the resultthat the abutment or stop 46 moves downwardlyat the right hand side of the'lever Bland, at the same time, causes the extension 30o of the lever 33 (see Fig. 2) to move to `the left as viewed in Figures 1 and 3. This' movement, :of course,Y actu,- ates the valve operating stem or connection 27 similarly to the left, so that the rocking' move,-y ment of the diaphragm *14 about .the knife edge 26 as a center closes the valve 10 and thus 'shuts 01T the supplycf. steam to the motor or turbine runner `6. In the preferred arrangement, fur. thermore, as illustrated in the drawings, the. valve.

. is so arranged as to provide an adequate passage their normal operatingpositions, i. e., the:posi

tions illustrated in Figure '1.

Thestructure is alsoprovided with means for Vpreventingabnormal' or undue deformation of the diaphrag'ml yin either direction.

In closing, the movementfof.Lthe'operatingccnnection and the' diaphragmislpositively l'limited by seating of the `valve while in opening, the stop 18a, asscciatedwithlthe' securing device 13', contacts with the shank portion. 27aandthus-limits j, movement of the depending connection 27 to the It is also to be noted that the loop or bracket 28 in cooperation with the'spring IBI-serves the purpose of yieldingly holding the shank 27a' .against the stop 18a. VThus,"'everr though there' be inaccuracies in machining, the stop will be engaged by the shank when'rthe valveis in. open position. Also, in the event of too greatapressure differencebetween the top and bottom p0r-Y tion of the valve, the valve can close, compress` ing spring, 31 without bending'or l, distorting any oftheparts. j i" According tothe foregoing, the present invention provides a novelntype" of diaphragm valve actuating mechanism, the said mechanism'being' of. such characteristics astov'permitof easy and positive operation'evenlthough the parts come into operation only'relatively seldom or after long While thefdiaphragm and the adapted for vuse in -afvalve structure of the type just referred to, it will4 be apparent to vthose,

skilled in the art that it may readily'be .employed with equal advantage in numerous other arrange ments of parts. VIn this connection it is noted that the diaphragm may readily be composed of a non-corrodible metal so that its life is very great indeed and, at the same time, the wear and deterioration is very slow, since the deformation positive of.' thediaphragm necessary to satisfactory operation need Aonly bel very slight.

The-.structure disclosed is further of advantage over structuresemployed in prior practice since the diaphragm `is not subject to the accumulation of scale in a manner which will interfere-with its satisfactory 'operation. In. comparison :with this, attention is called to the fact that inthe bellowstype of operating connectiom. especiallywhere the mechanism is actuated only relatively infrequently, any material accumulation of scale in the grooves or recesses between the bellows is likely to impair if not completely` destroy proper operation.

Another advantage of the use-of the diaphragm and operating'mechanismof thisinvention resides inthe fact vthat the diaphragm is"self cleaning in character so that, even if some scale accumulatesI from time .to time, the rocking movementr offthediaphragm during valve actuation cracks ofi'or loosens the 'scale and thus'ensures positive operation in emergencies. It is further to `be observed that, in view of the small deformation'or movement necessary at the diaphragm 'fitselh the-lattermay .be made of relatively` small diameterand thus of very great strength: as comparedto the strength of the relatively large diameter diaphragms necessarily employed where movementof vthe operating con-4 nection extends in a path generally transverse of the diaphragm. j

Finally itf'isnoted `that the trip mechanism employed .in associationwith the. governor is very simple in .construction-and .yet positive in operation.. :These parts are also arranged so that after once being tripped in anemergency, the motor cannot be again started until the tripproper is reset by hand.' This, of course, frequently avoids'considerable damage to associated parts or mechanisms.- f 1 .f

.fWhat I1clairnfis::

v#1.-In combinationwith a` valve chamber having` a valvetherein, a Valve actuating connection extendedfrom the interior of the .chamber to the exterior thereof, and a diaphragm device through which said connection is extended, the diaphragm device including a cylindrical part extended through a `chamber wall and a head or diaphragm portion cooperating With said connection, togetherwith 'means for securing the devicein proper position including reenforcing meansV engaging said cylindrical portion.

` 2. In combination with a valve chamber having a'valve therein, a valve actuating connec* tion vextended from the interior of the chamberV to the'exterior thereof, and a diaphragm device throughwhichsaid connection is extended, the diaphragm device including a cylindrical part extended'through a chamber wall and a head or diaphragm portion'vcooperating with said con-` l nection, together with means for securing the device vin proper position includingHreenforcing together with` the diaphragm secured therebetween, and means for mounting said connected members for rockingmovement about an axis lying substantially in the general plane of the diaphragm through the medium of said diaphragm, said valve member having knife edge portions asal., aud

sociated with ythefdiaphragm and its mounting to relieve pressure strains onLthe diaphragm.

4.,Operating mechanism for aY valve 'including a valve membenavalve operatingmember,

a diaphragm, rmeans for. securingsaid members together with. the diaphragm secured therebetween, means for mounting said connected members for rockingmovement about an axis lying substantially in the generalA plane of the diaphragm through the medium of said diaphragm, and knife edgeimeansforreinforcing said diaphragm alongsaid axis.

5. .A valve structure including a fluid pressure chamber having a valve port therein; a valve arranged to' .cooperate with said 4port to control flow therethrough;"valve operating mechanism including an operating connection extended from an external point through an opening in the chamber-to the interior thereoftoactuate said valve, a diaphragm carried by said connection and arranged' to constitute a closure for said opening and means extending vwithin the con'nes of said chamber cooperating with the diaphragm to provide a pivotfor said connection.

6. A valve `structure including -a fluid pressure chamber having .a valve port therein; a valve arranged to cooperate with" said port to control flow therethrough; valve operating mechanism including an operatingconnection extended from an 4external point through an opening in the chamber to the interior thereof to f actuate said valve, a diaphragm carried'by said' connection and arrangedto constitute closure for said opening, and`knife edge means `associated with said diaphragmsoasto extend along the axis of pivot and relieve the diaphragm of pressure strains.

7.: Operating mechanism'for a valve including a member having a cylindrical portion, a dia-A phragm portion at one end'of the cylindrical portion, and a flangedportion-at the other end of the cylindrical portion,valve actuating ,means secured to said member at the diaphragmportion thereofv and means for securing said member toI a support at the flangedy portion'thereof, said valve actuating means when moved causing def'- ormation of said diaphragm portion.I

' 8.r A valve structure including' a fluid pressure chamber having a valve port.l therein; a valve arranged to cooperate with said portto control ovv therethrough;- valve operating mechanism including an operating connection extended from an external point through an opening in the chamber to the interior thereof to actuate said valve; a member arranged to constitute a closure for said opening, said member having a cylindrical portion adapted to fit said opening vin the chamber, a flanged portion at the outside end of said cylindrical portion, and a diaphragm portionA at the inside end of said cylindrical portion; means for securing said operating connection to the diaphragm portion of said member, and means cooperating with the flanged portion of said member for securing it`to the casing exterior of said opening.

9. Operating mechanism for a valve including a cup-shaped member having a diaphragm portion, a reinforced cylindrical portion, and a flanged portion, valve actuating'means extended from the diaphragm portion at opposite sides thereof, and means for securing said cup-shaped member in place at the flange portion thereof.

`10. .Operating mechanism for a valve, said mechanism including a diaphragm, a valve rod extended through the diaphragm, means supporting said diaphragm for angular deformation to provide for rocking movement of the valve rod, stop means for limiting said rocking movement, means for actuating said rod including an actuating member, a link member located between said valve rod and said actuating member, and spring means between said actuating member and link member, said spring means reacting Afrom the actuating member to yieldingly hold the Valve rod against the stop means.

11. Operating mechanism for a valve, said mechanism including a diaphragm, a valve rod extended through the diaphragm, means supporting said diaphragm for angular deformation to provide for rocking movement of the valve rod, means for imparting movement tothe valve rod and means connecting said movement imparting means to said valve rod including a connecting link and' spring means located between said link andsaid movement imparting means and reacting from the latter. l

12. Operating mechanism for a valve, said mechanism including a diaphragm, a valve actuator, a valve rod carried by and extending thru said diaphragm, and means for connecting the actuator and valve rod including a link member and a spring located between said link member and said actuator. i

1 13. A valve structure including a fluid pressure chamber having a valve port therein; a valve arranged to cooperate with said port to control flow therethrough; valve operating mechanism including an operating connectionextended from an external point through an opening in the chamber to the interior thereof to actuate said valve, a diaphragm carried bysaid connection and arranged to constitutega closure for said opening, means extending Within the coniines of said chamber cooperating with the diaphragm to provide a pivot for said connection, and a valve actuator yieldably connected to said operating connection.

14. Operating mechanism for a valve, said mechanism including a disc type diaphragm, a

valve actuator, means carried by and extending thru said diaphragm for connecting the actuator and valve, said connecting means having knife edge portions supporting the diaphragm to relieve pressure strains thereon.

15. Operating mechanism for a valve, vsaid mechanism including a disc type diaphragm, a valve actuator, a bell crank connection between said actuator and valve, said connection being secured to and having its fulcrum at the diaphragm with one arm at one side of and the other arm at the opposite side of the diaphragm, the arm at the valve side of said diaphragm having knife edge Vportions supported to relieve the diaphragm of pressure strains.

16. Operating mechanism for a valve, said mechanism including a diaphragm, a valve actuator, and means yieldably connected to said actuator for connecting the actuator and valve, in-

cluding a valve rod extending thru said diaphragm, a link member between said rod and actuator, and a spring located between said link member and actuator. y

EUGENE L. SCHELLENS. 

